Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-19
THE BROKEN WATER MAIN.
The Big Break Repaired, but New
Leaks Discovered.

MEN STILL AT WORK ON L NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
| To PATCH UP THE CRACKs-A PROBABILITY THAT
| THE MAIN WILL HAVE TO BE UNCOVERED FOR
| LONG DISTANCE
| The men engaged in replacing the broken sec
| ton OF the 36-inch main on L street with new
section finished their work about O'Clock yeSter-
| day morning. An hour or SO later the water was
turned on, and the people residing in parts of the
city that had been deprived OF their water supply
| since Saturday morning were before noon rejoiced
to find the water flowing from their spigots After
| the water was turned On, water began to trickle
into the excavation on street, indicating another
break, OF a trivial character compared with that
| OF saturday morning, somewhere along the main
| at point east OF the big break.
WHAT CAPT sYMONs RECOMMENDS.
II have just written letter to Col. Ludlow
said Capt Thos. W. Symons to STAR reporter to-
day, Recommending that the street main be
and carefully filled in underneath with concrete,
In order to distribute the strain on the pipe. II
Will be necessary to uncover about 1000 feet"
capt. Symons thinks this Is all that is necessary
TO restore the pipe to good working order, but
minute examination will be made OF 1t to see If
there are any Cracks or other 1mperfectiOns.
Capt. Symons thinks that 1t viii be wise precau-
ton Tor the people living in the northwest, north
east ana southeast sections (Which are supplied by
speaking or the character Of the mains in the city,
Capt SymonS said that they are In good condition,
dAehousu DTeakS are IN ti1eln
every day. great many pipes have been laid in
this city that were improperly cast. That Is, they
are eccentric, being thin on one side and thick on
tne other few years ago these pipes were cast
IN a horizontal position but now the conditions
are reversed, and the pipe IS cast In vertical po
slton, thereby securing to 1t greater equality in
thickness than was obtained under the old system.
NEW LEAK FOUND.
This morning deep and wide trench hundred
1eet long had been opened in the street where the
main broke Saturday morning. Men were engaged
digging in search of the new leak. leak was
located ABOUT two lengths east OF the new section
put In saturday. 1t was crack In the side OF the
main ABOUT two feet long, through which small
Jet OF water played. There We're still evidences OF
a leak further east, and the excavation was con-
tlnued In search OF 1t. Supt. Hayden had the
WTought-lron Jackets or patcha0klt hand ready TO
put over the cracked mains. He thought 1t possible
10 patch the leak found this morning without
turning OF the water.
THE PATCHES
These jackets or bands are made so as to fit over
the main. Underneath them is placed sheet OF
lead quarter OF an inch thick. The jacket is
firmly bolted In place by means of wrought-iron
bands that enctrce the main Supt Hayden
Thought that the whole length OF the main where
IL rests on the piers would have to be uncovered
and precautions taken all along the line TO pre-
vent further breaks which might prove disas-
trous. The 36-lnch pipe, he said. rested on the
brlck piers the part touching the pier In each case
not being wider than mans hand. This brought
a great strain on other parts OF the pipe. lie had
noticed that the cracks and openings discovered
indicating that there was great crushing strain
inside